Shreds European Trips, Volume 2.

Finland (Day 11), Saturday 7th March 2026.

I was overdue a trip to Finland, and it been on my bucket list for some time, it’s a country I had only briefly visited once before, when I took the boat over from Estonia to visit Helsinki for a few days, and I had always planned to revisit and travel the country intensively, I was also interested in photting the Russian built SR1`s since Vectron`s were taking over much of the SR1 workings, especially on the long distant passenger operations. I spent 12 days, mainly Interrailing, with a few days spend with local travel tickets around Helsinki, I managed to complete all the main lines and all except two cross country lines, plus a few branch lines. In total for the 12 days, I covered just under 9,000 kilometres and travelled on 32 different trains, spending a total of 5 days continuously on trains. The highlight of the trip, for me was to catch up with 15 stored SR1 locomotives on an open siding opposite the depot at Pieksamaki.

I was up early at the Sky Hostel after a good nights sleep, and I walked into Helsinki Central station, which took me around 30 minutes. I caught the 05.03 to Seinajoki which got me in at 08.27. I was back on my Interrail pass using my last day up to get me back north of the country. I was aiming to get two large branch lines in, the first one was Vaasa, catching the 09.29 and arriving at 10.18. I returned on the same train at 10.35 to Tampere arriving at 12.51 and took lunch in the town. Leaving Tampere at 14.11 for the second branch of the day to Pori, arriving at 15.44, but again another short turn around as I left at 16.12, arriving back into Tampere for 17.45 and quite happy that I had completed both branch lines.

My last train of the day was the 23.09, night train, which was going up to Kemijarvi, so this gave me a few hours to spend on Tampere station for my last visit this trip, as I was flying back to Manchester the following day.

Finland (Day 12), Sunday 8th March 2026.

I was overdue a trip to Finland, and it been on my bucket list for some time, it’s a country I had only briefly visited once before, when I took the boat over from Estonia to visit Helsinki for a few days, and I had always planned to revisit and travel the country intensively, I was also interested in photting the Russian built SR1`s since Vectron`s were taking over much of the SR1 workings, especially on the long distant passenger operations. I spent 12 days, mainly Interrailing, with a few days spend with local travel tickets around Helsinki, I managed to complete all the main lines and all except two cross country lines, plus a few branch lines. In total for the 12 days, I covered just under 9,000 kilometres and travelled on 32 different trains, spending a total of 5 days continuously on trains. The highlight of the trip, for me was to catch up with 15 stored SR1 locomotives on an open siding opposite the depot at Pieksamaki.

I was travelling on the 23,09 on a Saturday night from Tampere to Rovaniemi, my flight was later afternoon, but my train was going 50 kilometres further up the line to Kemijarvi on new track for me, it was over the Arctic Circle again, but in a slightly different direction to Kolari and not quite as high up. A bus did operate 3 times a day from Kemijarvi to Rovaniemi Airport, one would have left by the time my train arrived, and the 10.30 bus, which was apparently a 20 minutes minutes walk away from Kemijarvi railway station, may have been extremely tight, and had I missed it, the next and last bus would have been after 15.00 and I would have missed my flight home. So, I was toying with the idea of continuing my journey to the end of the line, but as my train pulled into Rovaniemi, I decided to alight and leave Kemijarvi for another trip, maybe I’ll visit this wonderful country again sometime.

I spent most of the day around Rovaniemi, first having breakfast in the town and then walking out to the old locomotive depot and photting the shunting activities around the yard, before finally catching the airport bus and couldn’t resist a quick look at Santas Village, since the bus went through it. Not a cheap place but great for the kids, if you can afford it, one of my granddaughters toom some of my great granddaughters there last year, they said it was amazing. I later caught another bus to the airport; my flight home was on time. It had been a fantastic 12 days roaming Finland’s amazing rail network an I did complete most of the lines and packed a lot into the trip, time now to reflect and plan my next trip, which will probably be Romania again has I still have lines and depots to visit in that country, a country I find mysterious and fascinating.

shredder1 said:

Finland (Day 12), Sunday 8th March 2026.

I was overdue a trip to Finland, and it been on my bucket list for some time, it’s a country I had only briefly visited once before, when I took the boat over from Estonia to visit Helsinki for a few days, and I had always planned to revisit and travel the country intensively, I was also interested in photting the Russian built SR1`s since Vectron`s were taking over much of the SR1 workings, especially on the long distant passenger operations. I spent 12 days, mainly Interrailing, with a few days spend with local travel tickets around Helsinki, I managed to complete all the main lines and all except two cross country lines, plus a few branch lines. In total for the 12 days, I covered just under 9,000 kilometres and travelled on 32 different trains, spending a total of 5 days continuously on trains. The highlight of the trip, for me was to catch up with 15 stored SR1 locomotives on an open siding opposite the depot at Pieksamaki.

I was travelling on the 23,09 on a Saturday night from Tampere to Rovaniemi, my flight was later afternoon, but my train was going 50 kilometres further up the line to Kemijarvi on new track for me, it was over the Arctic Circle again, but in a slightly different direction to Kolari and not quite as high up. A bus did operate 3 times a day from Kemijarvi to Rovaniemi Airport, one would have left by the time my train arrived, and the 10.30 bus, which was apparently a 20 minutes minutes walk away from Kemijarvi railway station, may have been extremely tight, and had I missed it, the next and last bus would have been after 15.00 and I would have missed my flight home. So, I was toying with the idea of continuing my journey to the end of the line, but as my train pulled into Rovaniemi, I decided to alight and leave Kemijarvi for another trip, maybe I’ll visit this wonderful country again sometime.

I spent most of the day around Rovaniemi, first having breakfast in the town and then walking out to the old locomotive depot and photting the shunting activities around the yard, before finally catching the airport bus and couldn’t resist a quick look at Santas Village, since the bus went through it. Not a cheap place but great for the kids, if you can afford it, one of my granddaughters toom some of my great granddaughters there last year, they said it was amazing. I later caught another bus to the airport; my flight home was on time. It had been a fantastic 12 days roaming Finland’s amazing rail network an I did complete most of the lines and packed a lot into the trip, time now to reflect and plan my next trip, which will probably be Romania again has I still have lines and depots to visit in that country, a country I find mysterious and fascinating.

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Great report!!,you must spend weeks planning these trips,Great dedication, can't wait for the next one,cheers..Dave M

M

Davem said:

Great report!!,you must spend weeks planning these trips,Great dedication, can't wait for the next one,cheers..Dave M

M

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Thanks very much Dave, no, very little planning really, I tend to play it by ear and book accommodation on the fly, I know which countries and areas I want to visit of course, but after that I just look for cheap flights and buy an interrail, and thats it really, lol

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 1), Sunday 19th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my moneys worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway.

I arrived into Bucharest`s Henri Coanda airport just after lunchtime, an airport that puts Manchester airport to shame, and I was soon on the excellent rail link directly into Bucharest Gara de Nord railway station, the largest and busiest in the country. Bucharest is an amazing and very large city which sits on the banks of the River Dâmbovița. I was booked in my favourite Nord Hotel for the first night, and once checked in and dropping off my rucksack, I was back on Nord railway station for the rest of my first day, it was nice to be back.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 2), Monday 20th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

After a good night’s sleep in the Hotel Gara Nord, I was soon back on the platforms of Bucharest Nord station to capture the morning rush hour. I had just purchased a 10 day Interrail ticket for Bulgaria and was on the only train of the day to cross the border at Ruse, this leaves at 10.46 and arrives at 13.40, it returns at 14.15 to arrive back into Romania at 16.56, its an International train comprising of a two car badly graffitied railcar which goes unbelievably slow, as if it doesn’t really want to go there, this is one of two crossings from Romania into Bulgaria and the crossing on the western side of the country isn’t much better.
After a few hours on Bucharest Nord station platforms, I caught the infamous 10.46 into Ruse, Bulgaria, it’s a bit of a long drawn out journey, bouncing along over the Danubian plains, but eventually I hit the yards of Ruse and home to many of the Bulmarket locos and depot, which can be viewed from the train, but isn’t easy to get out to, the yards however are always very busy at Ruse.

At Ruse I boarded double headed Skoda class 44/45 electric locomotives destined for Sofia, although I was only traveling to the junction station of Gorna Orjahovitsa for the night. The classes 43/44/45s were built from the 1970s onwards, I can remember them from my mid 1990 visits and they still dominate many of the routes, they have of course had various modifications over the years, but appear to have stood the test of time. Vectron`s however now operate many of the faster main line services, especially between Sofia and the Black Sea costal resorts of Varna and Burgas.

I arrived into Gorna Orjahovitsa late Monday afternoon, the last time I visited here was some 5 years ago with my dear friend, the late Robert Lever, we walked down the line to the depot, asked two different people if it was alright to go around the depot and take some photographs, pointing to our cameras, we were told yes, and just over half way around, we were nabbed by security, who phoned the police and had us taken to the police station, we were held for an hour, told to delete any photographs, luckily my camera holds two cards, so I just deleted the one, so managed to keep my photographs, my mate Rob, just pressed the email button on his camera and his pictures were immediately sent back to the UK. To be fair the security and police were both fine and we did have a bit of a laugh together, the guys were only doing their jobs, but were pleasant enough with it. They let us go without charge and just told us to stick to the station platforms in future, which is fair enough. We stayed the night in an hotel in the town and next morning while waiting for our train, some different police told us not to take photographs on the station. These days I think they have just given up and don’t appear to hassle you for taking photographs on Bulgarian railway stations.

The depot did have some interesting traction on shed and it is quite a sizable depot, there were plenty of Lyudmila`s on shed our visit in 2019, but not so many visible on this visit, the country doesn’t appear to have as many now, I also didn’t see any of the Skoda Laminatky locomotives around, although I suspect all the Bulgarian versions have been withdrawn, the Czech Republic and Slovakia still hold on to their versions for the moment. Gorna Orjahovitsa depot also had a steam locomotive undergoing restoration on our 2019 visit, I did notice at least another 3 steam locomotives in unrestored condition, amongst the undergrowth as I passed the depot on this trip. I would dearly love to do a full shed visit there before it all changes.

I must say I couldn’t remember just how far up a hill the town was from the station, when we last stayed there, following my satnav I had over 300 steps to climb, up through a park, with my 10 KG rucksack on my back, it was quite a feat and a 20 minute uphill climb, I was certainly glad to eventually arrive at the hotel and enjoyed by first night back in Bulgaria for a few years.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 3), Tuesday 21st April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

My hotel in Gorna Orjahovitsa, the Ambaritsa, was very good, a very large plush apartment, the breakfast however, was a big letdown. This was in an adjoining building with a bar in it, the breakfast room was also the smoke room, it was like a London fog as I walk in, and all the breakfast consisted of was a small coffee and half a dozen cheesy balls of some kind, it was appalling.

I was soon out in the fresh air, walking down the hill and all the steps back to the railway station and after spending a few hours on the platforms, I boarded a Vectron through to Varna. It had turned into a wet day by the time I arrived at Varna and to add to this, the viewfinder cover had fallen off my camera, it was still taking pictures alright, but I didn’t want the insides getting wet. I actually found one of those shops selling all sorts of cheap items, and the guy behind the counter was a bit of a DIY-er and managed to repair it for me, by fitting a spare micro screw he happened to have in a tin, as he apparently repaired watches, so that was a bit of luck, and he wasn’t even going to charge me, so I gave him 5 Euros.

I walked out to the depot and took a few pictures from as close as I could get, Varna isn’t as busy as I remember it sadly and the old roundhouse section, that I was thrown out of in the mid-1990s, is no longer in use.

I next caught a train to Karnobat for a change of train for Burgas, where I was staying that night. It was late by the time I arrived into Burgas and I had booked an apartment within a 5 minutes’ walk from the railway station, but received a message from Booking.com saying that I would have to collect the keys from another hotel, which happened to be a kilometre away, I wasn’t very happy about this, it was dark and raining hard, and by the time I had reached the hotel I was drenched and didn’t fancy walking back to the apartment, in the rain, plus trying to find it in the dark, so asked if they could put me up in the hotel, they did, but charged me an extra 11 Euros, but still I was able to strip off my wet clothes and have a hot shower, it had been a good day and I have some new track under my belt.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 4), Wednesday 22nd April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

The rain had stopped as I left the Hotel Opera, the morning light was just breaking as I approached Burgas railway station. I was heading for the junction station, at Karnobat, between Varna and Burgas, this was because as I changed the previous night, I noticed a number of locomotive stabled just off the station platforms. I took the 06.55 train from Burgas, arriving into Karnobat for 07.55 and I was pleasantly surprised to find two ex-British class 87s and a number of Bulgarian locomotives parked up on the point.

My next train was the 09.35 from Karnobat, arriving into Sofia for 15.00. A lot of work is presently being done on Sofia station at the moment, with new platforms added, the locomotive depot is also more visible from the line now and it looks like they have moved all the scrap line to the east side of the depot. (I was lucky to be allowed a visit about 6 years ago, and surprised to find a few old steam locomotives still on shed, albeit in Barry condition). Sofia depot doesn’t look as busy as I remember it.

I was staying in an apartment called “Like Home Guest Rooms”, it was very basic and certainly not like any home I’ve ever lived in, but it was 5 minutes away from Sofia Central railway station and cheap. After dropping off my rucksack, I returned to the station to catch the 16.30 from Sofia to Iliyantsi yard, arriving at 16.41, so its not far really and this also has a stabling point for Bulgaria locomotives and ex BR class 87s, where I found two more, plus one on an intermediate station on my way into Sofia, so I had seen 5 ex Patriot BR class 87s in total at that point. I returned from Iliyantsi on the 18.06, arriving back into Sofia for 18.20. I found a traditional Bulgarian café for tea before returning to my accommodation for the night, the weather was improving and it had been another great day.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 5), Thursday 23rd April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I was up early at my guest room in Sofia, and soon on the station platforms for the 07.00 to Gorna Oryahovistsa arriving at 11.10 for a quick change to a train down to Stara Zagora, leaving at 11.35. I was travelling down the infamous Eight, a section of track that forms a large eight shape formation through tunnels to go under itself in order to climb down from a mountain range to the lower levels of the valleys between Raduntsi and Dabovo, on the line between Gorna Oryahovistsa to Stara Zagora, in the Tryavna Gabovo region of Central Bulgaria. It was an interesting run and I arrived into Stara Zagora for 14.34, a line well worth travelling on. The locomotive depot at Stara Zagora is just off the ends of the platforms, but access was difficult through and I didn’t attempt it on this occasion.

My next train was at 15.05 for Plovdiv, said to be Bulgaria`s second city and second largest by demography and area, I arrived into Plovdiv at 17.17 and had an apartment booked for the night. I was booked in at the Anapt Apart Center, it was very good, with a shared kitchen, but someone nicked the kettle in the night, and had taken it to their room, so I couldn’t have a coffee in the morning, I did think of hammering on every door until the culprit surfaced, but decided against it, I guess we have to share this planet with some selfish arseholes. On the walk out to the apartment however, there was an open railway crossing, no warning signs and it was on a bend over 6 tracks, with just wooden sleepers in between the tracks, and this was on the main line from the railway station and just part of a normal walking route for pedestrians, anyone with a pram or walking difficulties or a wheel chair would have struggled to cross there, it was a very dodgy crossing to be honest and joined two large housing areas with the city centre. I did however have a great day line bashing, the Eight was certainly worth the ride and I slept well that night.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 6), Friday 24th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

Another early get up and I was down on Plovdiv station before first light. I caught a train at 06.50 to Karnobat, (arrival 10.09), this was so I get travel new track between Plovdiv and Zimnitsa, Karnobat being the main junction station was the logical end point, plus the weather was better for photographing whatever was on the stabling point, and this time two more class 87s had joined the line up.

I departed from Karnobat at 11.15 on a direct service train back to Sofia, arriving at 17.43 and in time for tea in a traditional Bulgarian the city. My accommodation was at a place called “Hotello”, a 7-minute walk from the station, the place had some poor reviews on Booking.com and I could understand why once I arrived, but it was sort of hippified and chilled and also very cheap and did the job, so I couldn’t complain really and the day had brought me some new track, in glorious weather.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 7), Saturday 25th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

After a relaxing night in the “Hotello” guest rooms, I was soon back on the streets and taking breakfast in a station café at Central station. I was spending the day exploring the suburban lines, but this proved not to be the easiest of tasks, for some reason in Bulgaria, a lot of trains wasn’t showing up on my interrail planner and it was only when I compared it to Bulgarian Railways own website that I realised this. The Sofia local rail network only has 3 lines and they appear to run once a day, more by luck I boarded the first line, the longest of the three, out to Razmenna, a pleasant enough ride mainly down a single track, the line continued after Razmenna to rejoin the main line, but there didn’t appear to be any trains operating on it, so after a few quick photographs and a very quick turnaround, I was back on the train and returning to Sofia Central. I then saw another local train about to leave, so I jumped on it, but it only went to the next station Sofia Server, where some main line trains operate from, while Sofia Central is being redeveloped.

I caught the next local train to arrive, thinking it would take me down another branch line, but it just took me to a station along one of the main lines I had already been on, but it did terminate at a lovely little station surrounded by limestone cliffs, it was a tourist and walking location called Lakatnik. I returned on the next train to Sofia, but alighted at Iliantzi for my second visit to the yard, this time there were 4 ex BR class 87s stabled up, these were 87004, 87026, 87034 and 87019 and the weather was better on this second visit.

I had found some night trains on the Bulgarian timetable, which for some reason my Interrail planner had not picked up. Two sleepers operate between Sofia and Varna in each direction and one between Sofia and Burgas, I wish I had found these earlier in the week, but never mind. I returned to Sofia Central, took some tea in a local café and then caught the late sleeper on the Saturday night at 23.00 to Varna, which got me in at 05.24 and gave me six and a half hours sleep across the cushions as it was old compartment stock.

Bulgaria. Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 8), Sunday 26th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

The sleeper from Sofia to Varna was absolutely freezing, the carriage was full of holes. I shared a compartment with a Bulgarian lad, and we both woke up shivering in the night and once we did get back to sleep the ticket inspector woke us up. My train arrived in Varna to a nice sunny morning and I decided to walk out and go around the depot while no one was around, I also checked out the roundhouse where I had been thrown out in the mid-1990s, but the old depot was a shadow of its former self and the roundhouse no longer operating.

I wanted to travel on the line from Varna to Ruse and timed a train for 09.30, which took three and a half hours and got me into Ruse for 13.08, but we had a bus substitute for a small section of the journey because of engineering works, this was between Prostorno and Vetovo. We passed a private operators depot just east of Ruse which looked interesting, although I have no idea which one it was, and we also passed the depot at Ruse and the large yards to the north of the city, which was hosting Bulmarket former ME Danish locomotives and ex BR class 86s and 87s.

From Ruse I caught a train to Mezdra at 14.25, arriving at 19.27, a 5 hour ride. I wanted to travel on the branch line up to Lom, and caught a late train from Mezdra to Lom at 21.30, arriving at 23.27, so I was there for the night, and waiting for the first train back to Mezdra, which departed at 04.45 the next morning, so I needed somewhere to sleep, fortunately our train up was left parked on the platforms with a door open, so I just creeped in, and found myself a nice row of seats to sleep on ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 9), Monday 27th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I actually slept well in the carriage on the station platform and also slept through while the 04.45 departure from Lom made its way back to Mezdra as we arrived at 07.00. I had a few hours to spare at Mezdra and spent it having breakfast in a local café and then standing opposite the small locomotive depot to phot one or two shunting locos. I left Mezdra at 09.05, I was heading for the Romanian border crossing at Vidin and we arrived three hours and fifteen minutes later at 12.20. The station is cut into two halves here, and it’s more of a border crossing that the other one at Ruse. Custom officers travel on the train to the first station over the border. I left Vidin at 13.00 and arrived into Craiova for 16.13, this was a similar arrangement to the Ruse crossing, a slow journey on a two-car diesel multiple unit, which runs once a day.

I had enjoyed my 10 days in Bulgaria and covered most of the main and cross-country lines, with a number of branch lines also, and I was now set for some time back in Romania.
After spending some time in Craiova, which has a large yard at the side of the railway station which people use as a short cut, and it was good in that a number of locos were parked up in the yard, with access not being an issue. Craiova also has a small loco shed at the end of the platforms, but I have no idea where the works are, which would have been nice to locate, especially since the first batch of British class 56s were built there.

I was on a late train up to Simeria for new track, leaving at 20.28 and being deposited at Simeria for 01.44. Fortunately, they had a warm waiting room at Simeria and I was soon nodding off to catch up on some sleep and wait for dawn to break so that I could photograph the locos alone side of the depot. I slept fine in the waiting room.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 10), Tuesday 28th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

The sun was coming up nicely as I left my comfy waiting room at Simeria, and found a café opposite the railway station for some breakfast. I walked around to the locomotive depot to see if I could gain entrance, but you could get nowhere near, it was a keyed entrance, the other option would have been to cross the main lines, but that was a bit dodgy at Simeria, fortunately quite a lot of locomotives could be seen from the platforms and the sun had just swung around nicely before I left.

I was making my way towards Cluj Napoca for the night and caught the 10.44 direct, which arrived at 13.53. On arrival, I walked around the locomotive depot, but was stopped at the top of the yard by the yardman, I showed him my begging letter and offer of 100 lei for a shed visit, and he kindly phoned down to the sheds and sent me down, on getting to the depot, I was met by a Romanian lad who have spent 10 years working in Salford of all places, a lovely fellow and he took me to see the manager, but the manager said no. The problem was they had a line of stored locos built for the Cluj to Oradea line and he was worried my photographs might make the press, which is fair enough. The depot however was full and the stored line up looked amazing, such a shame I was unable to take any photographs, but at least I got to see what was down there.

After three nights rough sleeping on the trains and in waiting rooms, I was ready for a proper bed for the night, so I had booked a nice riverside apartment within a five minutes’ walk from the railway station the Vila Ana for 144 lei (£24), it was also nice to have an early finish and have a proper look around this city.

I first visited Cluj last October on a night train from Bucharest, but didn’t really have time to stay. I did try to travel on the line from Cluj to Oradea, but engineering works was taking place last year and it was still going on, on this trip, so I will have to revisit again in the future at some point. My apartment was lovely and I slept well that night.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 11), Wednesday 29th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

After a restful night in the Vila Ana in Cluj Napoca, I was back on the railway station and boarding an early train, at 05.35 to Dej Calatori for 07.17, I was heading for the large locomotive depot at Dej Triaj. I had seen it while passing from the train last October and it looked like an amazing depot, I was apprehensive whether I would get around through, which is why I chose an early morning visit. No sooner than I arrived on a local train to Triaj station, I was soon across the yard and heading into the depot, there was quite a bit of vegetation about, so I hid behind what I could, and had no issues until I spotted a guy walking towards me, I thought he’s going to throw me out, but no, he said they were hoping to get the class 9 steam loco operating later this year, he shook my hand and then went.

The depot does appear to be a mix between a preservation site and a working depot and sits at one end of a large marshalling yard that separates Dej Calatori from Triaj, it had quite a number of steam locomotives on shed in various conditions, but also many diesel and electric locomotives, some that appeared to be in store with vegetation growing all over them, the star find however was the unique DE2-241-001+241-002 diesel electric locomotive built for the Brasov Bucharest route, by Sulzer AG in collaboration with Henschel and Sohn and Brown Boveri and Co in 1938. Such a shame such an historic locomotive isn’t under cover, but great to see.

I returned to Dej Calatori on a regional ex German multiple unit and then caught 09.29 back to Cluj Napoca arriving at 10.54. I spent most of the day in the city before departing on the 15.18 to direct to Timisoara a journey of just over, seven and a half hours, and arriving at 22.53. I was lucky in finding an all-night café in a garage opposite the railway station and I spent the night in the café drinking coffee and nodding off from time to time, my train out in the morning was at 06.14, new track to Craiova.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 12), Thursday 30th April 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

The all-night café come petrol station came in handy between trains, I was however soon back on the platforms of Timisoara Nord for the 06.14 to Bucharest Nord on the southern main line, I however intended to break my journey at Craiova. I was surprised to find I was going to be travelling on an Alstom Coradia Stream EMU and a not loco hauled service. I must say I’m not over keen on the Coradia Steam EMUs or any EMU for that matter on long distant work, and I can see these unit displacing a lot of loco hauled services in the future.

I arrived into Craiova at 13.15 after a journey of 7 hours from Timisoara, it was a wet day and after exploring the yard, I left the station and went into a local café for some lunch, my intention being to catch a later train back to Bucharest Nord, as I still needed that section of track. I returned to the station after lunch and was surprised to see the train that brought me in, was still on the platforms, so I boarded it again and continued on to Bucharest Nord, leaving at 13.37 and arriving at 18.18. I then had some time to spend back in Bucharest before my next train, a night train to Vatra Dornei, to give me new track above Roman. I was on the cushions again, and to be honest rarely book sleeper cabins these days, because I feel you miss so much and I can sleep as well sat up these days as I can on the sleeper berths. The train to Vatra Dornei departed at 22.20 and arrived in the beautiful town of Vatra Dornel at 07.26 the next morning.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 13), Friday 1st May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

My night train from Bucharest arrived into Vatra Dornel just after 07.30 on a bright and sunny morning. The train terminated at this small single tracked station and reversed to the previous station, ready for its return. I had a few hours spare so took breakfast in that lovely town. I wanted to complete the line back into Dej Calatori, so caught the next train, which was at 10.43 and arrived into Dej Calatori for 13.57. Always a busy station, so not somewhere I mind waiting for a train. I returned along the same line at 15.08, arriving into Suceava at 20.55, with a two-hour change for a train to Bucharest, departing at 22.57 and arriving into Bucharest the next morning at 05.35.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 14), Saturday 2nd May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I caught up with some sleep on the night train from Suceava and it arrived into Bucharest Nord for 06.00 and I decided to spend the day in the city. I travelled on a few tram lines, the Metro and also took lunch in the Hard Rock café, generally I had a chilled-out day. It’s a lovely city Bucharest and I’m getting to know it better, by travelling around more, mainly on the trams, buses and Metro. Sadly, the Metro network is the worst I’ve seen for graffiti, so much so that you can’t actually see where you are until the doors open and you can see a station sign, so you really have to follow the maps and stops carefully.

After a few more nights sleeping on the trains, I treated myself to another hotel for the night, and opted for my favourite Gara Du Nord, opposite the railway station, and £24 for a room, so I couldn’t complain and after a traditional Romanian meal in the city, I retired for an early night.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 15), Sunday 3rd May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I was out early at the Gara Nord Hotel and back on the station platforms at Bucharest. The day was glorious and I went trackside off the ends of the platforms, no one bothers you doing that over there. I spent a few hours just photting the early morning workings, until my day train arrived for at 09.45 departure, a direct service to take me to Sibiu, another locomotive depot and some new track to get out there, although only a five hour and forty-minute train ride, arriving at 15.25, I decided to book another apartment for the night.

I passed the depot on the way into Sibiu and it looked very impressive and only a 5-minute walk from the station. I didn’t really fancy my chances of getting around. I noticed a security chap on the gate, who was dressed like he was going to invade Poland and I showed him my begging letter, when he immediately let me in, I was really surprised, but didn’t realise at the time, that this was actually listed as a museum. The strange thing about this though, like Dej Triaj, is it’s shared with a working railway depot, which I found a strange set up. I went around the depot on my arrival and after staying in the town for the night, I revisited the depot again the next morning because the sun was in a different direction. It was however pointed out to me to stay within the preservation section, (which I didn’t of course).

I was booked into an apartment in the old town, and I must say Sibiu is a very impressive touristy town. I had booked in at Studio Sonia, Tordosan Central, Sibiu old town, about a 20 minutes’ walk from the station, a lovely apartment in a very history building with a courtyard and only £14 for the night, an absolute bargain for a location like that. I slept well for another night in a bed.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 16), Monday 4th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

After a very restful night’s sleep in my apartment, I walked back through the old town at Sibiu and made my way back to the railway station, I couldn’t find anywhere to take breakfast apart from the street window type shops selling pastries, so I had to make do with one of those and sit on an outside bench to eat them. It was another glorious morning and the sun was in a different direction, so I went to visit the depot again, to photo the locomotives from different angles.

My plan now was to get out to another depot I had passed on the train last year, which looked to be full of stored diesel locomotives, I didn’t really know what to expect, but decided to hit it at first light, get my phots and get out before anyone caught me. I was heading for Jibou, but it wasn’t an easy route to get to. I caught the 09.45 train to Arad, a five hour and forty-minute journey, arriving into Arad for 15.53, this gave me a two-hour change before catching a train at 17.33 to Jibou, with a change at Valea Lui Mihai, 21.02 until 22.49 for a train to Jibou, arriving at 01.18 on the Monday morning. I then needed to wait for first light, so I had the rest of the morning trying to sleep in a cold waiting room. I was the only person on the station apart from the ticket clerk, surprisingly the ticket office was open all night and it also had a toilet and coffee machines, despite being a very small station. I did however manage to get a little sleep, sat up on a wooded bench, but I do have the ability to sleep anywhere, so it wasn’t too bad really.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 17), Tuesday 5th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I managed to nod off on my wooden bench in Jibou station waiting room and eagerly waited for the sun to rise so that I could bunk the depot opposite. A few early morning trains arrived and departed as the dawn was breaking, I kept watch on the lines leading to the depot and didn’t see anyone entering or leaving. As soon as I had enough light, I was over the main lines and into the sheds, it was amazing once in there, with lots of old diesel locomotives in store along side a line of small railbuses. I was up and down the lines photographing everything and I didn’t see anyone. I went back to the railway station, had a brew and waited for the sun to climb a bit higher in the sky, I then returned to the depot to get some brighter shots now it was more illuminated, I was very pleased with my visit to Jibou and had a successful bunk without a soul insight.

I was next on the 08.39 to Cloj Napoca arriving at 11.26, and again I was spending sometime in the city, which is just the way the trains worked out. I left at 15.18 on a train back to Arad, with a change at Deva 19.09 to 19.37, arriving back into Arad for 21.29 and waiting for a night train after midnight, at 00.02 to take me up to Subcetate.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 18), Wednesday 6th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I was sleeping on a wooden bench for the second night, this time at a very small village called Subcetate, which was listed on my map as having a railway museum, but very little information was available on the Internet. My train from Simeria deposited me in the darkness at 04.56, after a change of train at Simeria at 02.12 to 04.14, so a two hour wait there. I was the only passenger on the train to Subcetate and on arrival, I was surprised the building was open for the waiting room, albeit without any lighting, this is where my small torch I carry in my rucksack came in handy. I did manage to nod off for an hour or so and was also awake as the first light began to appear in the sky. I was waiting for daylight to break so I could look for this railway museum, as it wasn’t obvious, and I could see nothing, the village was very small and I walked from one end to the other in minutes, nothing. An old signal box and goods shed stood opposite the railway station and on closer examination, apparently this used to be the museum, but I was about 20 years too late and all the old locos had been moved off the site and the site was sealed, the buildings were falling down and gypsies were living in the bottom of the old signal box, my map shown a museum and an internet search told me it was still there, but it wasn’t, so I had a bit of a wasted journey and my train out back to Simeria was advertised at 08.40, but apparently they had changed the timetable and it actually arrived at 09.20.

After arriving back into Simaria, I caught the 10.44 to Brasov, arriving by 17.35, which gave me some time in the city for a traditional tea in a local restaurant, after spending some time on the railway station, I caught the 20.06 to Ploiesti Sud, with hours change for the 23.34-night train to Iasi, (pronounced Yash). It had been an interesting day

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 19), Thursday 7th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I actually caught the wrong train from Ploiesti Sud the night before, as my train to Iasi was running late, and I boarded the Vatra Dornel train instead, but I left that train at Buzau and picked the Iasi train up from there and arrived into Iasi for 05.35 on Thursday morning. The first thing I did on arrival was to get some breakfast, all I could find was a McDonalds opposite the railway station, so I made do with that. I then made my way to the locomotive depot, which was across from the station through an overgrown jungle of vegetation and old railway lines, in fact I found two old steam locos in the jungle, and the depot wasn’t much better, but it did have a few locos on shed. I managed to get around the depot and also managed to get thrown out, but this was on my way out anyway, so I had the pictures I wanted.

I returned to the railway station and then boarded the 08.01 to Galati on the direct line, so this was new track to me, but on a railbus, plus this was my first visit to Galati. I arrived into the city for 12.30. The locomotive depot is adjacent to the railway station, I asked for permission to visit, but this very miserable looking woman, who I presume was some sort of security, refused me entry, she didn’t even contact the shed foreman, which they usually do, a visit, and the depot was fenced off, fortunately I did find a few holes in the fence and a bridge went over the back of the depot giving a few views into the yard. The railway station also had two steam locomotives on display, quite a few do in Eastern and Central Europe and it’s always lovely to see them.

I left Galati on the 14.12 back to Bucharest Nord, so more new track to Buzau. I arrived into Bucharest for 17.54 and time for some tea in the city. After which, I was on another night train, I was heading for an open air steam museum in a public park of all places, this was in a town called Resita, and to get there I needed to catch a night train to a town called Caransebes I left Bucharest Nord at 21.19 and arrived into Caransebes at 05.38 on the Friday morning, so I was back on the west side of Romania again. It had been a day of high mileage again and another enjoyable day.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 20), Friday 8th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

My night train from Bucharest arrived late and arrived into Caransebes at 06.00, but still with plenty of time for my connection to Resita Nord, at 07.00, a class 41 electric with two coaches took me down the branch, which only sees four trains a day. I was heading for the open-air steam museum, which lies between both Nord and Sud station at Resita, the Sud station being the end of the branch. I then caught a tram across from the railway station takes you to the museum, in fact it has its own tram stop. I was more than impressed with the museum, its all free of course, and unusually set out in a linear park alongside the railway line, it is very impressive and I can certainly recommend a visit.

After an intensive visit and phots, I returned by tram to Sud and took breakfast in a local café, later returning to Sud railway station, as I wanted to get a local train to Timisoara, the train however didn’t leave from Sud station but Nord station, so I had to catch a tram to Nord station. The tram doesn’t stop at Nord station and it is a 5 minutes’ walk away. I arrived however just in time to catch a former German diesel multiple unit direct to Timisoara. Technically my Interrail pass wasn’t covered for the regional trains, but the guard allowed it. I did however enjoy the journey, the train meandered through some lovely little villages well off the beaten track, before climbing out of the valleys and into the flat plains above, before eventually arriving into Timisoara Nord, a very pleasant line indeed. Many small rural lines exist around Timisoara and I must return and do them all sometime. The stabling point had a large line up of both diesel and electric locomotives parked up, the most I had seen there.

I had visited Timisoara a few times now, but only as far as Nord station and I had never visited the city, so I took a tram into the centre and was very impressed with it, taking tea in the main walkway, before returning to Nord station. I was catching another night train back to Bucharest after another amazing day.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 21), saturday 9th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I had caught the 21.42 from Timisoara Nord to Bucharest Nord arriving 08.23 and taking breakfast in the railway station. I decided on a train ride out to Constanta on the Black Sea coast, departing at 10.35, arriving at 12.53, I had travelled the line back in 2017, so it wasn’t a new line for me. I returned Fetesti at 14.04 arriving at 15.00. I was last in Fetesti in 2017 and didn’t recognise the place as I left the train, the railway station must have been flattened and rebuilt from scratch comparing my pictures from 2017. Its all very clinical looking now with standard height platforms, the goods lines that bypass the station were empty, not full of waggons and locos as it was in 2017, the old footbridge that crossed all the tracks and yard has now completely been removed and a brand-new station is in place. Naturally as an enthusiast I preferred it as it was, now it has no character for me, fortunately the old roundhouse has not been touched, with a steam engine and a few diesels and electrics left on shed in the undergrowth, the roundhouse is falling down, but it didn’t stop me going inside for a few photographs.

I returned to Fetesti railway station and caught a train at 15.27 back to Bucharest arriving at 16.51, changing trains and catching one to Ploiesti Est, I meant to get off at Ploiesti Sud and it was only after alighting at Est station, that I realised there were no trains back to Sud station for over 4 hours, as most trains don’t stop at Est and there didn’t appear to be any public transport back to Sud station either. The station master and his lovely assistant however, were more than helpful, and phoned a taxi for me and even paid for it, I couldn’t believe the level of hospitality, those guys were wonderful. I offered to pay for the taxi myself, it was only about £10, not a lot of money for me, but probably a lot for them, but they insisted, even though it was my fault I got off at the wrong station.

I soon arrived back at Ploiesti Sud station and then caught the 20.03 arriving back into Bucharest Nord, arriving at 20.40. I hadn’t booked accommodation in Bucharest for the night so decided to catch another night train to take me to Craiova, leaving Bucharest Nord at 23.30 and arriving at 03.15 with a change in the early hours at 04.36 to take me back to Bucharest Nord for 08.23, so I was afforded some sleep for the night and saved on a hotel. It had been another great day.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 22), Sunday 10th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

I arrived back into Bucharest Nord on the night train from Craiova for 08.30, took breakfast in McDonalds on the station and spent the morning on the platforms and trackside, before boarding a train up to Brazi, at 13.30 and arriving at 14.33, as I wanted to try to get to the sheds at Ploiesti Sud, which are located opposite Brazi railway station. An underpass leads from the platforms to the depot and I was pleasantly surprised to find a line up of locomotives on the other side of it, the depot is fenced, but the fence contains many holes around it, so you could push a camera lens through them and also see over the top thanks to a stack of old sleepers. I walked around to the main gate, where you could also obtain a few images, I did ask to go around the depot, but the chap on the gate was pleasant enough, but unable to allow access, but I did get a good selection of images around the depot.

I returned to Brazi railway station and then caught the 15.55 to Brasov, for 18.29 always worth a visit to the station. I later caught the 20.00 from Brasov to Bucharest Nord arriving at 22.35. I hadn’t booked accommodation, so decided to catch a late train to the airport and spend the night there as I had used the last day of my Interrail ticket at that point. Bucharest is a great airport with everything open all night and plenty of comfy seats to sleep on.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 23), Monday 11th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

After a comfortable night at Bucharest Airport, I returned to Bucharest Nord and spent most of the day both on the platforms and also travelling around the city on the trams as I had bought an all-day surface ticket, which covers everything above ground, but for some reason not the Metro. I also booked a ticket to Bucharest Obor, a line I hadn’t been on, but with only one of two trains operating a day. I bought my ticket in the morning and the first train was 14.30 for the short ride and it was loco hauled.

An interesting, but derelict line, I was however surprised that Bucharest’s second station only has 3 platforms and two in use, the station building is magnificent though, albeit run down, surprisingly a large number of new units are in store there, 17 Pesa diesel electric units, and all look in ex works condition with no graffiti on them, it was however an open site, so I do hope they stay that way for as long as possible. The Polish manufacturer was supposed to be building a depot and maintenance facilities for these units, under the contract, but it hasn’t happened and the trains are in dispute, which leaves the trains just standing there. Worth watching the clip here about it, ().

I had to return to Bucharest Nord by trolleybus, but after a little shopping in the city, I decided to retire to the Gara Nord Hotel which I had booked for the last night, as I was travelling back to the UK the next day, but late in the evening, so I still had a full day left in Bucharest, I slept well that night, my first bed for about 6 nights.

Romania and Bulgaria, (Day 24), Tuesday 12th May 2026.

Romania and Bulgarian are two countries I’ve visited a few times now since the mid-1990s. I decided to revisit and to complete lines and visit depots I hadn’t previously been too. I was over there for just under a month. The depots in these countries can be difficult to access, nothing like the hospitality of Czech or Slovakia, especially in Bulgaria where I was arrested on a visit some 5 years ago, despite asking permission to visit, this was at Gorna Orjahovitsa, and but apparently I had asked the wrong person though, although to be fair the Bulgarian police were very good and after holding us for an hour, we were let go without charge. The main depot at Sofia Vassil Markov, I was caught bunking by a lovely security officer, who simply told me to ask in the main office, I did so and was allowed around, back in the mid-1990s I was asked to leave the depot at Varna when I was caught half way around, in the same period I had an excellent bunk at Burgas, so Bulgaria can be hit and miss with depot visits. Romania is not quite as severe, although they rarely allow you around the depots, they will ask you pleasantly to leave. One method I used on this trip was to offer money towards a charity of some 20 Leu, about £20, but none took up my offer. I used 3 Interrail tickets throughout this trip, a 7-day Global pass, a 10-day Bulgarian pass and a 4-day Romania pass. Within the month I managed to travel on all the main lines of both countries, and also many cross country and branch lines over a 24-day period. My total mileage for the month was 3,487 kilometres in Bulgaria and 6,990 kilometre in Romania, so I certainly got my money’s worth. None of the Bulgarian trains required reservations, my Interrail pass did say that most of the trains in the country did require reservations, but I was never asked to show one and sometimes didn’t bother, the cost was only around a Euro anyway, the problem was queueing for them between trains, I didn’t always have time.

After a restful night in the hotel Gara Nord, I was soon back on the platforms of Nord railway station for my last day in the country, the 24 days of travel had gone too quickly, but I had done most of what I set out to do and visited most of the major rail centres in both Bulgaria and Romania. I spent my last day on Bucharest Nord railway station; it was another beautiful sunny day. My flight back to Manchester was a late one, just before I caught my airport train, an ex-French class BB25500, which I had been told had finished operating, arrived into the station, I couldn’t get a decent photograph of it as I was on the wrong platform as it arrived, and it left again after my airport train had departed, so I had to make do with a few buffer shots shooting into the sun, nice to see these still operating though, but for how long, I don’t know.

My flight back into Manchester arrived just after 01.00 on the Wednesday morning, so I spent the rest of the small hours in the all-night Greggs in terminal 2, while I waited for the early morning bus into the city, so that I could use my free bus pass, I won’t spend money when I don’t have too. It had been a fantastic month away though and thanks very much if you’ve read all the blogs here.

Ireland, (Day 1). Friday 31st July 2026.

I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.

I was booked in on a late flight from Manchester into Dublin, arriving just after midnight and then taking a bus into the city. After spending a few hours in the all-night McDonalds, I made my way to Dublin Connolly Street railway station and boarded the first train out to Sligo at 06.55, new track for me, and I did manage a little sleep on the 3 hours plus journey up there.

I didn’t spend a lot of time in Sligo as I wanted to catch the next train back at 11.05, which arrived back into Dublin Connolly for 14.20, some ten minutes down. I then had a tight connection on the Luas tram across Dublin to the second station at Heuston and I just made the 15.00 to Cork, arriving for 17.32. I required the branch line to Cobh. The original station buildings have been turned into a museum, but sadly it was closing as I arrived. I next returned to the junction station of Glounthanune for the Midleton branch, and the birthplace of one of my guitar heroes, the late Rory Gallagher. The line from Midleton, once extended out to Youghal, but sadly now terminates at Midleton.

I returned on the same train to Cork, which has an interesting station building, and an old steam locomotive on display, enclosed in a large case. The locomotive is on permanent display in the concourse at Kent Station since 1950. "Engine No. 36" dates from 1847 and is displayed in the booking hall. Originally built by Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy of Liverpool at a cost of £1,955, the engine was obtained by the Great Southern and Western Railway to run services from Dublin to Cork. The engine remained in service until 1874. She was displayed at the Cork exhibition in 1902, the Railway Centenary Exhibition in 1925 and the bi-centenary of the Royal Dublin Society at Ballsbridge in 1930. She was moved to a new position and restored by Iarnród Éireann in 2007.

After spending sometime on the railway station, I made my way to the city centre for the night. Cork is as busy a city as Dublin, or at least that’s how it appeared. I found an all-night McDonalds and stayed for some time, before exploring the city. It was alive for most of the night, with bars and music spilling onto the streets, and plenty of seats to sit back in and enjoy the atmosphere, the Irish do know how to enjoy themselves. It had been a very long first day and I had covered a lot of mileage, a great first day in which to start my trip.

The Lartigue Monorail Museum. https://lartiguemonorail.com/history.html

Ireland (Day 2). Saturday 1st August 2026.

I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.

After a night on the town, I returned to Cork Kent railway station in time for the 06.25 to Tralee and was pleasantly surprised to find a Japanese built class 2600 (2601), in original orange and black livery was taking me down the line. The journey took just over 2 hours and was new track for me. Tralee is now a terminus station, although the lines beyond Tralee have now been turned into a Greenway leaving the town. These lines used to continue to the coast at Fenit, with other branches to Castlegregory and Dingle. A small preserved railway exists on the former Dingle line, but I didn’t have time to visit it on this occasion.

I caught a bus from Tralee bus station some 12 kilometres out to Listowel. I was visiting the Lartigue Railway Museum and was a few hours early as the museum didn’t open until 13.00, but transport is difficult to time in rural Ireland because of its infrequency and the buses are expensive, it cost me 11 Euros from Tralee to Listowel. On arrival, I took breakfast in the town and also located the original railway station at Listowel, which has since been converted into private dwellings. The Lartigue museum is located in the former goods warehouse next to the station.

The price of entrance into the railway, including a ride was only 6 Euros, the Lartigue is an incredible and unique railway to visit, a monorail system designed originally for the Algerian deserts to keep sands away from the tracks by elevating the railway above it. The line ran from Ballybunion to Listowel and lasted for over 30 years, it was a pleasure to finally visit this museum after having read about it, and I can certainly recommend it. The operation at each end of the railway, turning the locomotive was fascinating to watch, such innovative engineering of the day and a real credit to the people who have rebuilt this section for future generation to see and experience, a remarkable piece is history.

I returned to Listowel town, which is only a ten-minute walk away, in time for the 15.00 bus, which was the only bus I could catch to connect with my train back into Cork, and indeed the second to the last bus of the day, the bus however was over an hour late, but fortunately I was still in time for the train at 17.20 arriving back into Cork Kent for 19.19. I then caught the last train back to Dublin Heuston at 20.45 and arriving at 23.42.

I had another night on the town, back in the all-night McDonalds and then walking in a £300 a night hotel and spending a few hours in a comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, as you do. As long as you pick a spot out of sight from the reception desk, no one seems to bother you and people seemed to be coming and going all night in this one anyway, but I did manage a few hours undisturbed sleep and saved £300 quid in the process. It had been another great day.